Receiving multiple job offers is great for your confidence and is a good sign for your career. Most likely, your application materials are strong, and you’re a hot commodity in the job market.
However, choosing between multiple offers can be tricky. It’s easy to get stuck in a “sliding doors” mindset and put off making your decision until the last minute.
But making an early decision can help you start planning your life in a new role. You’ll be able to pick up new skills while you wait for your start date and can begin to adjust to your new position.
Utilize Decision-making Models
When facing a tricky decision, most people bust out a notepad and start listing the pros and cons of each option. This can be an effective decision-making method if you’re deciding between vacation locations, but it shouldn’t be used when navigating multiple job offers.
When considering job offers, you have to recognize that certain “pros” vastly outweigh the “cons”. This means that decision-making models like the “Rational Decision Model” are far more appropriate and can help you make choices that advance your career in the long term.
Within this model, you’ll start by listing your long-term career goals. Do you want to advance on the corporate ladder, open your own business, or receive funding for your own research? Work backward, and try to ascertain which job offer gives you the best chance of meeting your career goals.
You don’t have to make the decision alone, either. You can always ask your friends, family, colleagues, and coaches for their opinion before you sign on the dotted line.
Gather Opinions
Navigating multiple job offers can throw you into a tailspin. It’s easy to overthink things when faced with major life decisions, and you may find that stress and anxiety get in the way of rational thinking.
Before you make any commitments, speak to your loved ones and gather their opinions. Consider how a move might affect your partner, but be clear that career advancement is important to you. Older children will want to be kept in the loop, too, and you also will find that they may have opinions — especially if your new job will involve moving them to a different state.
From there, consider hiring the services of a career coach when weighing multiple offers. Professional coaches can give you an outside perspective when making decisions and give you a sense of direction. A good coach can also lower feelings of anxiety and help you think clearly during the process.
Remember to leverage your professional network during the job-seeking process. Speak to folks that you consider to be mentors and gather their insights. Those who have more experience in the industry can spot red flags that you’ve missed or have insights that help you make the right decision for you and your family.
Negotiate Your Salary
Salary negotiations are enough to raise anyone’s pulse. However, salary negotiations are a normal part of the recruiting process, and pay should be hammered out before you turn down any other offers.
Know Your Worth
Use sites like Glassdoor and Salary.com to compare your pay to the pay of similarly qualified peers. This can help you establish your worth in the current market. Dig a little deeper, and consider asking around about benefits and bonuses. It’s unlikely that hiring managers are trying to pull a fast one on you, but you still need to know your worth if you want to get the best salary possible.
Remain Professional
Remain calm and respectful during the negotiation process. You aren’t haggling with hiring managers; you’re trying to reach an outcome that suits you both. Reaffirm your excitement about the company, but be clear about the elements of the offer that are holding you back.
Remember that you don’t need to make a snap decision. If a hiring manager pushes you to choose the spot, they probably aren’t the right choice for you. Instead, take some time to calm down after the negotiations and consider the new offer.
Manage Your Mental Health
Receiving multiple job offers can be a much-needed boost for your confidence and self-esteem. However, certain jobs may have a negative effect on your mental health. On the other hand, positive mental health in the workplace can help you avoid burnout, improve your performance, and help you strike a better work-life balance.
Dig deeper into benefits packages when weighing up potential offers. Do both companies offer pay time off for mental health issues? Do they have a policy in place to support those with conditions like depression or anxiety? Does the benefits package offer you access to a therapist?
Next, ask about the training that your prospective managers have received. Businesses that train their managers to handle mental health issues are usually more progressive and understanding of the challenges you may face.
When assessing employee well-being, use sites like Glassdoor and Indeed with caution. Anonymous employee reviews can be a good way to assess the culture of a given company, but disgruntled former employees can use the platform to spread ill will. Take your findings with a pinch of salt and only act on information if you spot a clear pattern.
Explore Career Growth Opportunities
Accepting a job offer should be a catalyst for career growth. You’re expanding your professional network and are about to gather meaningful experiences that can help you land promotions in the future. So, when weighing up offers, consider which job gives you the best chance at advancing your career.
Pursue Professional Growth
A new role can help you climb out of a career rut and gather the skills and experience you need to find success. So, when weighing up your options, ask yourself: “which job will look best on my next resume?”. Consider factors like:
- Access to career development opportunities;
- Training you’ll complete during the onboarding process;
- The technology you’ll become familiar with during the role;
- Opportunities to fill experience/qualification gaps while in the role.
Jobs that help you grow professionally are also deeply fulfilling. This is particularly important if you feel that you become bored easily or are looking to advance the corporate ladder quickly.
Expand Your Networking
You’ll also have the opportunity to expand your network while working in a new role. This can be particularly useful if you want to reach the next rung on the corporate ladder but don’t yet have the connections to make opportunities for yourself.
Use sites like LinkedIn to research your prospective peers and the connections they have. Look for folks who are industry experts and ask to work with them during the hiring process. This is a great way to expand your professional network and can lead to meaningful career growth in the future.
Maintain Work-life Balance
It’s easy to forget that your career should support your lifestyle and improve your overall well-being. When weighing up offers, consider which role will give you access to the lifestyle that you want to lead.
If you’re concerned about scheduling and work hours, ask the hiring manager about flexible working hours. You may find that the business is open to flexible work once you’ve completed your probation period. Being able to work your own hours is particularly important if you have a family or want to spend more time pursuing hobbies outside of work.
Some roles come with perks like free travel and business trips. If you’re highly skilled and responsible, your employer may select you to represent the firm when meeting with stakeholders across the nation. Travel is also relatively common in jobs like:
- Web developer
- Event planner
- Remote teacher
- Digital marketer
These roles can be completed remotely — provided you get the green light from your manager. Speak openly and honestly about your desire to travel while working, and see what kind of offer your prospective employers can create. Often, employers are open to remote work and are more than happy to give you extra freedom over your schedule once you’ve shown that you are responsible.
When weighing up offers, try to imagine yourself completing a typical day. Will your daily responsibilities bring your joy and fulfillment, or will you quickly become burnt out by the tasks you’re expected to complete? If you’re concerned about the effect that certain tasks may have on your engagement, speak to the hiring manager and find out more. You may find that some tasks are shared responsibilities, meaning you can split the load with other employees.
Accept or Turn Down the Offer
It’s finally time to accept an offer. You’ve weighed up your options and are ready to take the next step in your career. However, turning down an offer can still be a source of major stress, even if you’re content with your choice.
Be punctual when turning down an offer. Don’t rush the process, but let the prospective employer know that you are turning down their offer when you are certain that you have made your decision.
If you’re communicating via email, show your appreciation for their interest and thank them for their time. Let the hiring manager know why you turned down the offer, but avoid the temptation to over-complicate your communications.
Keep the door open to future opportunities by remaining polite throughout the process. If it feels appropriate, connect with interviewers on sites like LinkedIn. This will allow employers to reconnect with you at a later date if a new position comes up that might be of interest to you.
Conclusion
Navigating multiple job offers can be a source of stress and anxiety. The decision you make will have ramifications for the rest of your career, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when weighing up your choices.
Gather feedback from your peers and family. Experienced coworkers will be able to give industry insights that can help your decision-making, while your partner might make suggestions based on the goals you have as a family. Remember to do a little research before you enter contract negotiations and try to place as much value on work-life balance as benefits and salary. When it’s time to turn down an offer, send a polite, short, and informative email to the prospective employer. This will keep your options open down the line and may help you land a new job in the future.
